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Gamers are always looking at how to up their game, improve performance, speed, and graphics. While there are various options, a graphics card allows for a cooler, smoother performance. We have one of the leading brands for graphics cards and we have two examples in particular.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a performance-segment graphics card and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 is part of the latest generation of graphics cards. We are going to look at the specifics of the RTX 2060 vs GTX 1080, including the interface, ports, technology, and software. After a comparison chart and some pros and cons, we will decide which is the better graphics card.
The RTX 2060 and the GTX 1080 have very few things in common. In fact, the only similar feature is that they are both VR-ready. For this, we will get straight into the difference.
Side by Side RTX 2060 vs GTX1080
The following comparison chart shows the specifics side by side.
Differences Between RTX 2060 and GTX 1080
Appearances
It’s not necessarily important what the graphics card looks like but it’s handy to know the specs.
The RTX 2060
It is 9.53 x 5.12 x 2.09 inches and weighs 1 pound. It has 2 slots and is made with a durable aluminum backplate to prevent PCB flex and trace damage.
The GTX 1080
The size and weight vary slightly depending on whether you choose between the 2, 3, or 4 slots. There is no information on the materials.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Graphics Processing Unit
One of the most important parts of the graphics card is the GPU that retrieves and carries out instructions.
RTX 2060
The NVIDIA Turing cards are still some of the best on the market today and many consider them to be some of the most influential GPUs.
GTX 1080
It uses the Pascal processing unit, the most advanced gaming processor created so far.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Interface
The interface refers to how your graphics card connects to other parts of your device. We looked at the graphics card and hardware interface.
RTX 2060
The graphics card interface is PCI Express x16. The PCI Express 4.0 is twice as fast as its previous version.
GTX 1080
There is no information about the graphics card interface. For the hardware interface, you have PCI Express 3.0
The Winner Is- The RTX 2060
Memory
High-performance games that use large amounts of data require large memories so that the image data can be constructed.
RTX 2060
The memory of this graphics card is 6GB GDDR6.
GTX 1080
The memory is slightly larger at 8192MB. As the memory is GDDRX5, the speeds might be a fraction slower, but it uses less power too.
The Winner Is- The GTX 10080
Performance Features
Aside from the GPU, interface, and memory, there are some other features that will help boost performance.
RTX 2060
It comes with 1920 CUDA cores for running lots of calculations at the same time. 120 texture mapping units, able to resize, rotate and distort bitmap images. And 48 ROPS, used for the final stage of the rendering process.
GTX 1080
The only information available is that it has 2560 CUDA cores.
The Winner Is- The RTX 2060
Connections
You can use both the graphics cards with multiple monitors.
RTX 2060
There is a display port 1.4, 2 HDMI 2.0b connections, and a DVI-D port.
GTX 1080
The only difference is that instead of the DVI-D there is a dual-link DVI.
The Winner Is- The GTX 1080
Overclocking
Overclocking gives you the chance to run your computer at faster speeds than it was designed for.
RTX 2060
When overclocking, the boost clock is 1785MHZ.
GTX 1080
The boost clock is a fraction less at 1733MHZ.
The Winner Is- The RTX 2060
Software
One of these graphics cards comes with software that helps to take full advantage of the card.
RTX 2060
It comes with GPU Tweak II, with simple mode, gaming booster, and professional mode.
GTX 1080
There is no mention of software with this graphics card.
The Winner Is- The RTX 2060
Technology
NVIDIA has been sure to include some of the latest technology to enhance the performance.
RTX 2060
Auto-Extreme removes harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process. This means that the cooling process is increased, with better power efficiency, and a longer life span.
GTX 1080
There is a wider range of technologies with NVIDIA Ansel. It is also ready for SLI HB Bridge, G-sync, and GameStream.
The Winner Is- The GTX 1080
Cooling
With all this power, the cards need to have a cooling system to prevent overheating.
RTX 2060
It comes with IP5X dust-resistant wing-blade fans.
GTX 1080
It has vapor chamber cooling technology.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Pros and Cons
We have a few pros and cons of the RTX 2060 and the GTX 1080 before the final verdict.
RTX 2060
Pros:
- Nice silent fans
- Great clock speeds
- Overall, a consistently excellent performance
Cons:
- There might be a clicking sound at higher speeds
GTX 1080
Pros:
- It’s a very good choice for VR
- Installation is easy
- Smooth game playing
Cons:
- Generally speaking, it’s more expensive
The Final Verdict
It was a difficult choice but, in the end, we chose the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. This is because it was slightly better value for money but more importantly, the performance is superior. Gaming was smooth with high-quality graphics, it runs quietly, and over the long run, it is more reliable.